MEMBER of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern Tarn Peralto has introduced a computer-based programme in three schools to foster literacy among the 1,200 children in his constituency.

The first-term MP said he intends to roll out the programme, dubbed ‘Academic Intervention’, in 22 of the 36 schools in the constituency, reaching an additional 200 students each year.

The programme, which began last September at Scott’s Hall and Annotto Bay primary as well as St Mary Technical High, is created to work on special software in those schools where internet service is not available.

Peralto, who stated that education is a priority for him, said students are assessed at specific grade levels in reading and mathematics and a software specifically created for each child.

“Each kid’s programme is set out for them and they cannot pass that level unless they master it,” he said, noting that 30 students have already reached the appropriate grade level, which shows the success of the programme.

The MP said he has already allocated some $6 million toward the programme and that he is soliciting private sector support. Jamaica Producers Group, the banana chips factory in the area, has already agreed, he said.

Assistance has also been given via the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the form of educational grants with 500 students receiving back-to-school vouchers last year and a further $1-million set aside to assist students at the tertiary level.

But Peralto says his focus is not only on the Academic Intervention programme but also on broadening the offerings of skills training facilities in the constituency.

He told the Sunday Observer that he has written to the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) requesting that some of its courses be taught at the Annotto Bay High school. He said he is also in discussion with the HEART Trust/NTA to revisit some of the traditional skills training areas currently being offered in the constituency.

One of the new offerings Peralto is hoping to have introduced is a course in turfing which will teach persons how to prepare and maintain a field. He is also introducing an ornamental fish-rearing project and training has already began for about 12 persons who will get financial assistance to establish their own businesses.

The MP maintains that traditional farmers have not been forgotten as roughly $7.5 million of his (CDF) has been allocated to agriculture throughout the constituency. Currently, he said, there is a programme to assist with crops to replace banana which took a battering from recent hurricanes and a pig-rearing project now in its second phase. Other farmers have been assisted with tools, goats, chickens and coffee seedlings as well as other planting material.

As regards unemployment in the constituency, the MP said he is in discussion with the Tourism Product Development (TPDCo) to roll out a facelift for the town so it can begin to benefit from the tourism dollar. According to Peralto, the plan includes creating a waterfront boardwalk in Annotto Bay, complete with restaurants and boat rides to the mouth of the river, so that people on their way to the eastern end of the island can spend money in the town. He said he also has big visions for Castleton Botanical Gardens, noting that the proposal to widen the Junction road to link with the North Coast highway will present an opportunity for lay-bys to be established where food and craft items can be offered.

Another income-generating idea, he said, is to have an old boxing plant in Albany converted into a agro-processing and packaging facility to serve farmers in his and adjoining constituencies.

Addressing the concerns of bad roads and the damaged bridge, Peralto said plans are afoot to effect the necessary repairs and to construct a new bridge.

“I continue to try to commit the NWA (National Works Agency) to a time line as to when we will be getting it but I understand that at first it will be a Bailey bridge then they will build the real bridge,” he said, pointing out that the bridge would be next in line for construction after the Harbour View bridge.

The MP said he sees constituents every Monday at his office in Annotto Bay.

“Outside of Mondays I am usually in the constituency up to four times a week and on Wednesdays I go to traditional grave diggings and I use that as a means to also keep in touch,” he said.